2. misc-audio
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Son et Image 2011 - Montreal

Hello anyone else attend the show?

i have been to the show 5 or 6 times and this was my 2nd time at this hotel. i went down from ottawa on the train with a few friends on friday and we stayed for the day. it was more enjoyable in the early going before the rooms got very busy

we started in the big Wilson room. it was way too loud and the bass was booming over everything. probably due to the room and set up but it wasn't the best start. thankfully we only went into a few rooms that were disappointing. i didn't like the audio note room at all. it sounded like i was listening through cupped hands.

the mbl room was super expensive of course and imaged like nothing else. but when we were there the bass seemed to be moving our pant legs. i know acoustic bass (which is what was playing) doesn't sound anything like that. i will leave that to the room being small. this show like many shows seems to often have earth moving bass and is the thing most people seem to comment on that they enjoy when i talk to them. at the shows.

i really enjoyed the Clarity room even though the YG Acoustics driven with Jones Audio gear also had bass that was too pronounced. the sales person there was great. we enjoyed talking to him and ended up listening to all 3 systems including: the Eggleston Speakers with Chapter Audio gear and to the Nola Speakers with Mimetism amps. All in all I liked the Nola best.

my favorite room by far was the L'Atellier room. The Ocellia speakers with the Verdier turntable and 12" arm was sublime. really beautiful sounding and the only room i went to visit twice.

i also enjoyed the Gemme audio room and the Nagra room. i wanted to listen to the Harbeth but that room was jammed as was the Leben/Gibbon room. in the past they were also in my best of show group. from talking to other people i heard they were great again.

and i liked the Cabasse/Mac room. really expensive but it sounded like music which isn't always the case at an audio show.
mcrosier

Showing 1 response by cousinbillyl

cousinbillyl
190 posts
 
I think you nailed it at the beginning. Most of the better systems where in smaller rooms, and the bigger speakers in the bigger rooms paid no attention to room acoustics.

The Hansen room played music from the computer. There where no transients, and the music was played so soft, there was no hint of base. They should have booked a larger room and at least let the speakers open up.

The Wilson room was just off. It was as if they didn't care. Computer music while I was there.

The MBL room sounded great from the lower midrange up, but below that there was no articulation of base notes. Again a smallish room.

The Mac room was packed, so no comment. As was the L'Ateller. Now that I read your post, I think I missed two rooms worth visiting.

The Nola room sounded very good from a standing position, but still nothing great. The room was tiny.

My complaint is that everyone was trying to be polite. No one played female voices, acoustic guitar, or dynamic music.

I am hoping the Toronto Audio Video Entertainment Show www.taveshow.com at the end of September yields more aggressive exhibitors.

Very few rooms had a vinyl rig. Most played through a laptop. The ones that had a vinyl front end wouldn't play my albums. Opps!.
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